For those of you following the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac, here’s February’s information. All times are Eastern Standard.
The moon
February begins and ends with the moon in the light phase. The light moon rules not quite three days until the full moon comes into force at 6:09 p.m. Feb. 3 then returns with the new moon at 6:47 p.m. Feb. 18.
The dark moon is then in force Feb. 4 and until 6:47 p.m. Feb. 18.
“General Tips” for dark- and light-moon activities are below and if you are planting, it’s above-ground producers in the light moon and below-ground producers when the dark phase is in.
The signs
Remember: Check to see if the moon is in the light or dark phase (information above) before proceeding with planting, or other activities, indoors or out.
Fertile signs: The most fertile signs in the zodiac rule these days: Cancer (the breast), Feb. 1, 27-28 (both Ember Days, see below); Scorpio (the secrets), Feb. 10-11; Pisces (the feet), Feb. 18-19 and Taurus (the neck), Feb. 22-23. There are nine days remaining this month ruled by the fertile signs — Cancer, Scorpio Pisces and Taurus.
Killing signs: No planting, transplanting, or dealing with things you want to thrive should occur on these days. Reserve them for cultivating, cleaning out fencerows — anything but planting: Leo (the heart), Feb. 2-4 and Aries (the head), Feb. 20-21. There are five killing days ruled by either Leo or Aries this month.
So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so: Sagittarius (the thighs), Feb. 12-13; Capricorn (the knees), Feb. 14-15; and Aquarius (the legs), Feb. 16-17. There are six days ruled by the three so-so signs.
Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers. Virgo (the bowels) will rule Feb. 5-6 and Libra (the reins) is up for Feb. 7-9. There are five flowering days again this month.
Gemini days: Gemini rules the arms and is in force Feb. 24-26. In very warm areas these will be great days for planting beans with the moon in the light phase and great days for peas in the cooler climes.
Time to plow
While the Cooperative Extension Service in these United States strongly disagrees with me, I endorse the notion embraced by those who know such things that plowing in January and February, no matter how wet the ground may be, is absolutely the best time.
There are reasons to the contrary so the call is up to you. On occasions when I’ve been able to get someone to plow for me during these months, it’s certainly worked fine and the soil is very crumbly all summer long.
That said, you have an entire month before you if you are so inclined.
Ember Days
This month features our first series of Ember Days, Feb. 25, 27-28, three days at the end of the month when no planting of any kind should be happening. These are supper killing signs and it’s just unfortunate that they hit on light moon days when Gemini (Feb. 25) and Cancer (Feb. 27-28) are in force.
Reserve these days for anything but planting — kind of like Aries and Leo days, only worse.
General tips
Again, here are a few general tips for activities other than planting:
>If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that in the light of the moon. Same applies for stones on a garden path: Place them when the moon is in the light phase so they don’t sink.
>If you’re setting fence posts, do that in the light of the moon so the posts don’t sink.
>If you’re putting on a new shingle roof, do that when the moon’s in the dark phase so that the shingles stick down and don’t curl up on the ends.
>If you have changes to make like stopping smoking, starting a diet or exercise program, weaning small animals or children, scheduling elective surgery — anything that requires a change — here’s the formula: The moon in the dark phase and the signs going out of the body, past anything that “functions” so that means thighs, knees, legs and feet — Sagittarius through Pisces.
We have six full days this month — up from two in December and four in January — that fit the formula perfectly, Feb. 12-17 and all but the last 5 hours of Feb. 18 when the moon moves to the light phase. The moon is in the dark phase until Feb. 18 and the signs are going out of the body past anything that functions. Specifically, Sagittarius (the thighs), Feb. 12-13; Capricorn (the knees), Feb. 14-15; Aquarius (the legs), Feb. 16-17 and until 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18, a Pisces (feet) day.
There will be even more perfect days in March.
